Electric flasher for multiple sets of lamps.



E. G. LORENZ.

ELECTRIC PLASHER FOR MULTIPLE SETS 0? LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1914.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

UNITED STATES *PATEN T OFFICE.

ERNEST C. LORENZ, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PACIFICMOTOR- LESS SIGN 00., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION OFCALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC FLASHER FOR MULTIPLE SETS OF LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,511.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST C. Lorenz, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Electric Flashers for Multiple Sets of Lamps, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to flasher for electric lights, particularlywhere it is desired to attain novel lighting effects by causingdifferent colored lights to flash at intervals either alternately or atdifferent rates of speed, or to occasionally blend their colors.

The object of the present invention is to provide means forautomatically controlling the energization of a multiplicity of electriclights which may be mounted in independent circuits, the meanscomprising an apparatus whereby the lamps or sets of lamps can be.independently energized for predetermined different colors. can beflashed for periods of time which relatively overlap, causing themultiple lights to be illuminated at one time; the device automaticallyoperating to cut out the energizing circuit.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide alight-flashing apparatus which is independent of any moving,mechanically actuated parts, and dispense with a motor, and which isoperable with rapidity.

The present invention comprises in combination with multiple circuits ofelectric lamps, temperature operated circuit controllers, each withmeans for varying the period of time during which the respective lampsare energized or denergized.

The present invention is particularly useful in display or signapparatus, and is designed to eliminate the use of motors and drivingmechanism, thus eliminating the initial cost of the motors andmechanism, and saving directly the cost of operation of the-motor.

The present invention includes means which are directly mounted in thelighting circuits and are controlled by, and consume only a fraction of,the actual lighting current.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a sign, em-

bodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showing theflashing circuits. Fig. 3 is a perspective of an approximately full-sizescale showing the flashers.

At 2-, there is shown a box or casing provided with a front sign-bearingpanel 3, which may be of suitable material, and which may be providedwith opaque, translucent or transparent portions, and colored asdesired. Within the casing 2 are mounted in suitable electric circuits,groups of lights 5 and 6, the lamps comprising each group being ofsimilar color, and the groups being varicolored.

The energization of the groups of lights is controlled by a flasher orflashers shown in Fig. 3 as comprising arcuate, thermoelectricconductors 7, preferably of thin metal,

of which there is one in each individual flasher, each conductor beingwound with a resistance wire 8 insulated from the metal of the conductor7 the function of the resistance coil being, when energized, to heat itscore or conductor 7 so that the latter will expand into contact with acircuit-closing bridge shown as a U-shaped member 9, arrangedtransversely over the expansible arch 7. The bridge piece, or conductor9, is preferably provided with an adjustable contact member or screw 10,the lower end of which is movable toward or from the upper adjacent partof the expansible arch 7, the distance of the tip of the screw 10 fromthe crown of the expansible arch 7 determining the length of timeelapsing before the expansible arch 7 will electrically contact with thescrew 10, due to the heat produced by the passage of the current ofelectricity through the heating coil 8 wound upon the thermostatic arch7. The wiring for the apparatus is clearly shown in Fig. 2 in which 11is a lead wire or feeder connected by a binding-post 12 to an end of oneof the flasher arch members 7 In Fig. 2 two of the flashers are shown asconnected to the feed wire 11. In order that an electric circuit will beclosed constantly through the flasher arch members 7, the ends of theheating coils 8 are grounded upon their respective members, and a fineconductor 13 connects the arch member 7 to its bridge member 9, each ofwhich is provided with. a binding-post 14, from which runs a lampcircuit wire 15 which extends to and connects with the lamps 5 or 6 asthe case may be, these lamp circuits joining a common return or feedline 16.

The first or primary closed circuit is as follows: Following along theline 11 current is delivered to the arch members 7 at then binding-posts12, thence the current flows through the resistance windings 8 of each,and over the fine or resistance wire 13 to the bindingposts 14 fromwhich the current wires 15 convey current to their lamps 5 and 6 whichare joined to the common or return line 16, thereby completing thecircuit, 111- cluding the resistance coils 8. Assuming that the operatorhas previously adjusted the contact members or screws 10 of each flasherat different distances as to their respective expansile arch members 7,then as soon as one of. the respective arch members expandssufiiciently, due to heating by its resistance coil, and is forced intocontact with its respective contact screw or pin 10, then a circuit willbe closed, and its respective bridge or conductor 9 over its circuitwire 15 to energize its group of lamps, group 5. Owing to the cuttingout of the resistance coil 8 the current will flow freely through thecontact screw 10 and line 15 to the group 5 with sufficient force tofully energize its lamps; whereas, when the current is traversing theresistance coil 8, before the short circuit has been made at the screw10, engaging the expansile arch 7, the quantity of current reaching thewire 15 through the re sistance wire 13 will be insufficient to energizeits light group.

When any of the arch members or flashers 7 have been expanded intoengagement with its respective screw 10 so that the load is taken fromthe' resistance coil 8, the latter will cool in temperature and allow aloss of temperature in its respective core or arch member 7, and thelatter will shrink away from electrical contact with its circuitclosingbridge screw 10, whereupon the load of the current will again be thrownin the resistance coil 8, and the heating of the same will cause thereexpansion of the thermostatic arch member 7, which will again closeits circuit at the short-oircuiting screw 10 of a member 9. From this itwill be seen that by the adjustment of the circuitelosing screw ormember 10 of each of the flashers toward or from its cooperativeexpansile conductor 7, the length of time elapsing between thesuccessive closures of a circuit by the engagement of the expansilemember 7 with its contact member 10 will be accurately and easilycontrolled and determined; for instance, if it is desired to illuminatethe red group of lamps 6 at frequent and short intervals, its respectivecontact screw 10 would be adjusted so that its tip would be spaced fromthe crest of thermic arch 7 and this would be required to expand acrossthe intervening space before engaging the screw tip so that if thelatter is ad usted at a point remote from the crest of the arch member7, this will expand to its maximum degree before engaging the tip. Thenas soon as the engagement or contact is complete and the currentshortcircuited from the conductor 7 to the conductor 9, it will be seenthat upon the cooling of the member 7 it will quickly retract fromcontact with the screw point and thus extinguish the light; theretraction being very quick as the cooling of the arch member 7 begins,owing to the loss of heat in the thermic coil when the current has beenshort-circuited.

If it is desired to produce long period flashes, for instance, of thegreen lamps 5, then the screw contact of the respective flasher devicewould be adjusted to close to the crest of its respective arch, when thelatter is 0001. Then when current is turned into the heat coil 8 theexpansion of the arch member 7 would quickly bring it into contact withthe closely adjusted screw 10. Owing to the continued expansion of thearch, while remaining in engagement with the screw, the length of theflash or illumination of the lamps would be the desired time controlledby the position of the screw contact as stated, in close proximity tothe arch member 7. Between the minimumperiod of flash and the maximumperiod of flash any intervening periods may be obtained by varying theposition of the contact screw. After the adjusting contact members 10 ofthe several flashers have been adjusted as desired, the lights of theseveral groups will continue to be automatically flashed andextinguished, the groups operating independently of one another, andeach having a different period of flashing and expansion, this efl'ectbeing accompli shed by the same current passing through theflash-controlling devices, as that which energizes the lamps, andtherefore extraneous mechanism and other independent circuits consumingadditional electricity are entirely eliminated.

Not only have I succeeded in eliminating electromagnetic mechanism withmovable elements and eliminating all formsof operating and extraneousmechanism, but a further advantage is that by the present means I haveprovided a flashing system which is of a practically constantly closedcircuit, and the variation of the intensity of the strength to the lampsis produced without any tendency of sparking in the flashing devices,because of the fact 'that there are no circuits which are opened andclosed and which would tend to produce arcs. The thin aluminum arch 7cools and heats quickly, thus permits and produces rapid flashing insuccession because of the speed of movement during expansion andcontraction of the thermo members. The members 7 may be preferablyconnected by an open coil, copper connector 11' which serves to radiateheat derived from the members, and this prevents heat transmissions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLettors Patent is:

An electric light flashing and dimming apparatus, comprising incombination, a plurality of sets of lamps, an arched expansibleconductor for each set of lamps, a fixed contact member mounted over thetop of each arched conductor and having a connection with its respectiveset of lamps, an

insulated resistance coil wound around each expansible conductor andhaving one terminal connected to the front end of its supportingconductor and its opposite end connected to its respective fixedcontact, feed wires connected to said expansible conductors and a returnwire connected to said sets of lamps.

In testimony whereof-I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

ERNEST C. LORENZ.

Witnesses:

O. C. KIEFER, F. E. MAYNARD

